§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had to promote thermal insulation work under his programme using the job creation scheme.
§ Dr. John CunninghamThe Department was involved with the Manpower Services Commission in Autumn 1976 in setting up the scheme under which local authorities were encouraged to undertake insulation of roof spaces in their properties using the job creation programme. Since then the benefits of the scheme have been consistently stressed in contacts with authorities. In the first year of operation of this scheme approval has been given to the insulation of nearly 100,000 houses and many other public buildings such as schools, hospitals and old people's homes.
The new package of energy conservation measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 12th December last provides increased opportunities for local authorities to insulate their properties and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will shortly be sending out a circular about the new measures which will draw authorities' attention to the possibilities of using the Special Temporary Employment rogramme—STEP—which will replace the job creation programme during 1978, for such works.